Page 68 of Make You Mine

I close my eyes and savor every bite.

As wonderful as it is, I don’t know if I can face Kayden after this. It’s not that I regret it.

But I lost my mind yesterday. Let my feelings and frustration get in the way of my rationality.

A whirring sound forces me to look to my side.

Joseph’s wearing his usual cap, janitor jumpsuit, and headphones as he paces the room with the vacuum cleaner at full volume.

I shut the tumbler and head out of the room, not wanting to get in the way.

God, will I be able to sit somewhere in peace today?

Our gazes meet, and Joseph pauses the machine, taking off his headphones and giving me a weak smile.

He doesn’t seem happy to see me, or in general, and I have an idea of why.

I made a total fool of myself yesterday at the bar, and he probably was a witness. Though I lost sight of him after a while. Or maybe—it was him, my stalker, and he saw me trying to get with one of his friends.

I never got the handwriting sample from Hannah. Shoot. I should have asked her, but with everything going on, it slipped my mind. To be fair, I doubt she kept the note.

But if it was him, why wouldn’t Joseph say anything?

“I didn’t see you there,” he says, a low grovel to his tone. “Sorry. I thought the classroom was empty.”

“That’s okay.” I smile back. “I was on my way out.”

“Actually. Maddy…”

“Yes?”

He fumbles for words, his lips pursed.

I tilt my head. “What’s wrong?”

“Did you end up going home with Lucien? I saw you two together, but I went to the restroom and couldn’t find you when I came back. I wasn’t sure if you⁠—”

“No.” I cut him off, a pinch of annoyance in my voice. “Actually, he stood me up.”

Joseph’s expression hardens. “That’s weird. So, you…haven’t seen him since last night?”

“No.” I frown. Why is he acting so surprised? “Why?”

“That’s the thing.” He pauses. “He didn’t come home last night. It’s still early, but we’re afraid he’s missing. And you might have been the last person to see him.”

My heart drops a beat.

Missing? What?

A silly thought rushes through my mind.

My stalker.

What if he took Joseph’s friend out of my sight?

What if Lucien never stood me up, but someone made him do it?

I shake the thought away. No. My stalker is deranged, but he’s not that deranged.